Electric switch.



PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

F. HUFFER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED APE.9,1904.

Inventor Attorneys.

W'itncss02Zg T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filedApril 9, 1904- Serial No. 202,382-

with electric lights designed in similitude of candles.

The objects of the invention are to provide a switch which will be of no greater compass than the size of the conventional candlestick and which may be operated without need of a key.

A further object is to reduce the danger from short-circuiting.

A still further object is to render a switch incapable of being injured by having the operating parts turned in the wrong direction.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a vertical section through a switch and candlestick; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3, gnclli Fig.4 a detail view of the insulatingis s.

The same numerals of reference indicate,

corresponding parts in all of the figures.

In carrying out my invention I provide a support 1. This support may be connected to a stand 2. The support 1 is provided with an annular flange 3 and a standard or stem 4, having a central opening 5 extending throughout its length. The standard or stem 4 may be made of a piece of brass tubing soldered or brazed to the support 1. The moving parts of the switch surround and are supported by the standard 4, as is also the candle 6 when one is used. The socket 7 and the lamp 8 are supported by the stem. One of the conducting-wires 9 passes through the base 2 and support 1 and through the center of the standard 4 to the lamp. The other conducting-wire 10 does not pass through the stem, but only through the support 1.

Surrounding the standard 4 and supported thereby is a disk 1.1 of insulating material, preferably porcelain, having a stem 12 and a central cut-away portion 13. The stem 12 is provided with a recess 14, which engages with a pin or fixed abutment 15, soldered or shape as the disk 11, surrounds the stem 4 above the disk 11 and has a stem 19 and central cut-away portion 20. This disk is also made of insulating material and is provided with a ring 21 on its under face, such ring being made of copper or other good conducting material. Surrounding the stem 19 is a metal contact 22 in the form of a coiled spring which may go partially around the stem 19. One end of the contact 22 passes through an opening in the body of the disk 11 and is secured to the ring 16, so that it will make good. electrical contact therewith. The other end of the spring 22 bears upward and elastically engages with the bottom of the ring 21 so that good electrical contact is secured between the two. The disk 18 is adapted to rotate upon the stem 4 by means which will be described.

Carried on the upper surface of the disk 18, with one end extending through the disk and connecting with the ring 21, is a coil contact spring 18, similar to the spring 22..

Surrounding the standard '4 and resting upon the disk 18 is a third disk 23, of substantially the same shape and made of the same material as the other two disks and having a stem 24. The stem 24 is slightly deeper than the stems of the other two disks, and the under side of the disk outside of the stem is provided with notches 25 and 26. These notches are preferably of an even number, and alternate notches are provided with contact-surfaces 27 of copper or other suitable material. The spring-contact 18 bears against the under side of the disk 23 and makes or breaks contact with the contactsurfaces 27 as the disk 18 is revolved. On the upper face of the disk 23 is a ring 28 of good conducting material, and connecting this ring and the contact-surfaces 27 are pins 29, so that they all will be electrically connected. To a portion of the ring 28 is secured a connecting-screw 30, to which the leading-wire 31 is secured. This leadingwire forms a continuation of the lead-wire 10.

Above the disk 23 is a cover or plate 32, having a reduced portion 33, through which passes a set-screw 34. The set-screw is IIO that direction.

adapted to be engaged with the standard 4 and prevent rotation of the cover. The cover 32 is provided with an annular depending flange 35 and a pin 36, which latter pin engages within a recess 37 on the disk 23 and prevents the latter from being rotated.

Surrounding the three disks and resting upon the annular flange 3 is a casing 38, which covers the moving parts of the switch and extends to the flange 35 of the cover 32. The casing 38 is provided with a flange 43, which serves as a convenient means for rotating the casing. This flange is also rolled over, as shown, giving an ornamental finish and causing the switch to more closely resemble the conventional candlestick, which resemblance is increased by the casing being no larger than the corresponding part of a conventional candlestick. Attached to the inner cover of the casing 38 is a number of spring-pawls 39, which engage within notches or ratchet-teeth 40, formed upon the face of the disk 18. These pawls permit the disk 18 to be rotated by motion imparted to the casing 38 in one direction. Upon the casing being rotated in the other direction the pawls will slip idly over the notches or ratchetteeth 40.

Within the support 1 and surrounding a portion of the disk 11 is a disk of insulation 41. Aring of insulation 42 surrounds the disks 18 and 23.

The electric circuit through the switch and lamp is as follows: Starting from the leadingin wire 1.0, the current passes through the ring 16 and from there to the spring-contact 22. From the spring-contact 22 the current passes to the ring 21 and from that to the spring-contact 18, and from the spring-contact 18 the current passes through one of the contact-plates 27, pins 29, and ring 28 to the binding-post 30 and wire 31, thence through the lamp and returns by the leading -in wire 9.

The operation of the device is as follows: Upon the casing being turned in the direction of the arrow one of the pawls 39 engages with the notch 40 and rotates the disk 18 in This will cause the contact 18 to pass from a notch 26, which is provided with a contact-surface, to a notch 25, which is not so provided. The disk 23 being made of insulatin material the current will be broken and the light extinguished. Upon the casing 38 being again rotated in. the same direction the contact 27 will be turned, so as to engage with a notch 26, which is provided with a contact-surface. Upon the casing 38 being rotated in the other direction the pawls 39 will idly slip over the edges of the notches 40 and no harm will be done.

The switch may be taken apart by removing the lamp, sliding the candle upward along the standard or stem 4, loosening the setscrew 34, and elevating the cover 32. The

casing 38 may be then elevated, exposing the disks and permitting access to the connections.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable and a fixed contact element, of a casing surrounding the elements, and means connecting the two for imparting motion in one direction to the movable element, such means being inoperative in the other direction and a coiled-spring contact between the two elements forming an electric connection.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a support, of a movable and a fixed contact element thereon, a casing surrounding the elements, and means connecting the two for imparting motion in one direction to the movable element, such means being inoperative in the other direction and a coiled-spring contact between the two elements forming an electric connection.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable and a fixed contact element,

the said movable element having notches in its periphery, of a rotatable casing surrounding the elements and having a pawl, the said pawl being adapted to engage with the notches, and rotate the movable element by the rotation of the casing and a coiled-spring contact between the two elements forming an electric connection.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of a movable contact element, a fixed contact element on each side thereof, the movable contact element having notches in its periphery, and a casing surrounding the element and having a pawl, the said pawl being adapted to engage with the notches.

5. In an electric switch, the combination with a standard and a casing, of contact elements comprising movable and fixed elements'surrounding the standard, the movable element having a coiled-spring contact, and the fixed element having notches engaging therewith and forming an electric connection, the said movable element having ratchet-teeth on its periphery and engaging with a pawl carried by the casing.

6. In an electric switch, the combination with a standard, of contact elements comprising movable and fixed elements surrounding the standard, one of the elements having a coiled-spring contact, and the other element having notches engaging therewith and forming an electric connection.

7. In an electric switch, the combination with. a standard and a casing, of contact elements comprising movable and fixed elements surrounding the standard, one of the elements having a coiled-spring contact, and the other element having notches engaging therewith and forming an electric connecthe lowest being stationary and having contion, the movable element having ratchetteeth on its eri hery and engaging with a pawl carried y fihe casing.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of a support, a standard thereon, three contact elements surrounding the stand ard, the middle element being movable and the other two fixed, contact devices between the ele ments, and means for rotating the middle element.

9. In an electric switch, the combination with a support, of astandard thereon, contact elements surrounding the standard, the said elements comprising cylinders of insulating material and electric contact surfaces, the middle element having notches in its periphery, and a casing surrounding the said middle element and carrying a pawl adapted to engage with the notches on the middle element and rotate the latter.

10. In an electric switch, the combination with a support, the said support having an annular flange, of a standard on the support, contact elements surrounding the standard,

tact-surfaces, the middle being movable and having contact-surfaces above and below, and the upper being stationary and having contact-surfaces below and in engagement with the contact-surfaces on the movable element, the periphery of the movable element being notched, a casing surrounding the movable element and supported within the annular flange, and a pawl on said casing engaging with the notches on the movable element.

11. In an electric switch, the combination. with a standard, of contact elements com: prising movable and fixed elements surrounding the standard, the movable element having a coiled-spring contact, and the fixed element having notches engaging therewith and forming an electric connection.

12. I In an electric switch, the combination with a standard, of contact elements comprising movable and fixed elements surrounding the standard, the movable element being arranged between the two fixed elements, and having a coiled-spring contact, and one fixed element having notches engaging therewith and forming an electric connection.

13. In an electric switch, the combination with a standard, of three contact elements comprising a movable and two fixed elements surrounding the standard, the movable element being between the fixed elements, and having a coiled-spring contact, one of the fixed elements having notches engaging therewith and forming an electric connection, and the other fixed element having a coiled-spring contact engaging with the movable element. 1

14, In an electric switch, the combination with a standard, of movable and fixed contact elements surrounding the standard, the movable element having ratchet-teeth on its periphery, and a casing surrounding the elements and carrying a pawl engaging with. the ratchet-teeth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 6th day of April, 1904,

FREDERICK HUFFER.

Witnesses: LEONARD I-I. DYER, J NO. RoBT. TAYLOR. 

